NVIDIA today released its latest version of the GeForce software suite, version 275.50 BETA. With this release, NVIDIA enables SLI support on AMD socket AM3+ platform. The driver enables SLI multi-GPU technology certified AMD 990FX, AMD 990X, and AMD 970 motherboards. Keep in mind, not every AMD 9-series chipset-based motherboard will run SLI, only certified ones, just like not every Intel 5-series and 6-series chipset based motherboard features SLI. Look for the SLI logo when buying the motherboard.

Besides this major change, GeForce 275.50 improves 3D Vision performance on Duke Nukem Forever. It adds new 3D Vision profiles for Duke Nukem Forever Demo, Mars benchmark, Rise of the Immortals, and Rusty Hearts. 3D Vision profile for Alice: Madness Returns is improved. This is a BETA release, use of which is not covered by product warranties. SLI support on AMD, and all features in this release will be carried forward by future WHQL-signed driver releases.

And I'll say it again. SLI licensing is such bullshit that I can't get excited by this news. I know for myself that Nvidia could have had a lot more sales letting SLI work on other previous multi GPU AMD chipsets. I think their management is nuts and their business sense is even more nuts. If I want to use SLI I have to buy a new motherboard to get official support or any support at all. What is worth more? IS it a licensing fee or selling multiple GPUs?

And I'll say it again. SLI licensing is such bullshit that I can't get excited by this news. I know for myself that Nvidia could have had a lot more sales letting SLI work on other previous multi GPU AMD chipsets. I think their management is nuts and their business sense is even more nuts. If I want to use SLI I have to buy a new motherboard to get official support or any support at all. What is worth more? IS it a licensing fee or selling multiple GPUs?

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The licensing did make sense when they still made their own chipsets I suppose.

The BIOS contains an NVIDIA certification code within its differentiated system description table (DSDT). All NVIDIA-certified motherboards come with this, all AM3+ motherboards with the SLI logo have it right from the initial release of their BIOS/EFI firmware.

This new NVIDIA GeForce driver merely now looks for that code also in AMD 990FX, 990X, 970-based motherboards (earlier it would only do so with Intel 5-series, 6-series chipset-based systems). Once the driver sees that code, it will unlock the SLI option.

SLI doesn't come for free on any motherboard that doesn't use nForce. Motherboard vendors have to pay NVIDIA $5 for every SLI-certified motherboard sold.

They lost 30% of their cashflow in the last 4 years. most of it in the last 18 months.

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AMD is on the road to a very slow recovery but is still swimming in debt last time I checked. They almost went bankrupt 2 years ago. We should be looking at marketshare really though. I haven't read over the numbers of last quarter yet but I am sure AMD gained a little. I do believe Nvidia still has more marketshare most likely. Best case scenario is "neck and neck" so they struggle to offer more to the consumer and therefore advancing the technology at a faster pace.